The Flourishing Of Song Dynasty China | The World 1000 Years Ago

Рет қаралды 15,970

Күн бұрын

Of all the various dynasties in Chinese history, the Song are best known for their cultural flourishing and longstanding impact on imperial administration. But even this fails to touch upon the full spectrum of impacts which this era had, let alone the lives of most people living day to day as subjects of the Celestial Empire. Today in our exploration of the world 1000 years ago, we're looking at the big guy, possibly the most politically complex and populous realm at the time, Song China.
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Recommendations for further reading:
-Bossler, Beverly Jo. Powerful Relations: kinship, status, & the state in Sung China (960-1279) (Harvard University Press, 1998).
-The Cambridge History of China. Vol.5, Sung China, 960-1279 (Cambridge University Press, pt.1: 2009, pt.2: 2015). Pt. 1 eds. Denis Twitchett and Paul Jakov Smith, pt. 2 eds. John W. Chaffee and Denis Twitchett.
-Chaffee, John W. Branches of Heaven: a history of the imperial clan of Sung China (Harvard University Press, 1999).
-Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Inner Quarters: marriage and the lives of Chinese women in the Sung period (University of California Press, 1993).
-Fried, Daniel. The First Print Era: the rise of print culture in China's Northern Song Dynasty (Abington: Routledge, 2024).
-Halperin, Mark. Out of the Cloister: literati perspectives on Buddhism in Sung China, 960-1279 (Harvard University Press, 2006).
-Lorge, Peter Allan. The Reunification of China: peace through war under the Song Dynasty (Cambridge University Press, 2015).
All images used in this video are either my own, in the public domain, under fair use, or under creative commons (whence they shall be credited appropriately)
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Outro music: Laid Back Guitars by Kevin MacLeod, CC BY-SA 4.0
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#medievalhistory #medieval #middleages #history #educational #china #songdynasty #chinesehistory #eastasia #printing #globalhistory

Пікірлер: 70

@kheelengkwek1355 2 ай бұрын

It’s not the Song brothers, but the Zhao. Although Song is the dynastic name, Zhao is the family name of the Song emperors. Also, Taizu, Taizong etc are regnal names which identify the emperor and their reigns when they ascended the throne. Their given names are another matter. So Song Taizu, for example, was actually named Zhao Kuangyin. And if that’s not confusing enough, just remember Chinese names have the surname (or family name) in front, followed by their given (or first) name.

@rafaleyu 17 күн бұрын

太祖太宗是廟號，死後才有的。中國好像沒Regnal name。

@dr.gaosclassroom 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this with us. Song Dynasty is my favourite dynasty in the whole Chinese history!!

@boxerrebellion1509 2 ай бұрын

I think Tang & Han are the most interesting dynasties in China's history

@ogukuo72 2 ай бұрын

@@boxerrebellion1509 My preference is actually the Warring States period, precisely because there are so many geopolitical lessons and also because I think it is the true start of what became Chinese culture.

@rafaleyu 17 күн бұрын

@@ogukuo72 Warring States TV series。 Theme music from 1:15 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXqZcoCnlKeYkJosi=OYUKHmdNnDeaxSAw

@dr.gaosclassroom 13 күн бұрын

@@boxerrebellion1509 I can understand your preference of Han and Tang because of the military and cultural achievements they accomplished!! However, it would be a hard time to live during those times. I wonder if you can do time travel, would you like to travel to those times and live there?

@jonaspete 2 ай бұрын

Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties are the most influential dynasties to development of east asia.

@BOO-sb5dh 2 ай бұрын

Han & Qin Are we a joke to ya?

@jonaspete Ай бұрын

@@BOO-sb5dh Japan and Korea didn't model themselves after them.

@josecipriano3048 6 күн бұрын

@@jonaspeteJapan and Korea did model themselves after China, which was modelled by the Qin and Han dynasty. Also I think you are forgetting a certain Khan from Mongolia.

@paiwanhan 2 ай бұрын

There was also a small but vibrant Jewish community in the capital city Kaifeng. I guess they were already there during the Tang dynasty. They were called 一賜樂業 (It-su-lok-giap), which is likely a phonetic transliteration of Israel. A synagogue was built in Kaifeng in 1163 after Kaifeng had been sacked by the Jurchen. It remained active until 1850 when the last rabbi past away, and no one in the community could read Hebrew. In the temple stele, Adam was written as 盤古阿躭 (Phuân-kóo A-the), with 盤古 being the being that separated heaven and earth in the Chinese mythology. Eve was written as 女媧 (Ju-ua) which is the female goddess that created mankind out of mud in the Chinese mythology. The Hebrew word for Eve is Ḥawwāh, so some what similar. Abraham was written as 阿無羅漢 (A-bô-lô-hàn). Moses was written as 乜攝 (mih-siap). Mount Sinai was written as 昔那山 (Sik-na mountain). Isaac was written as 以思哈□ (I-su-ha-) with the last characters unrecognizable. Jacob was written as 雅呵厥勿 (Nga-ho-khuat-but). Aaron was written as 阿呵聯 (A-ho-lian). Joshua was written as 月束窩 (Gua̍t-sok-o). Ezra was written as 藹子喇 (Ái-tsú-la). There might be a deeper connection between Eve and 女媧, and it's pretty cool those early Jewish settlers recognized it.

@TriBgarage 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting. You acknowledge this is not your area of expertise, yet this was very well prepared, and presented. I learn something from everyone of your videos.

@kennywong4239 2 ай бұрын

Actually, the rise of the Tanguts were the key highlights in the 1020s China. After the peace treaty with Liao in 1004, Song adopted a more inward looking policy, which aided the growth of the Tanguts, which was their governors in the northwest. The worst is that the Tanguts were gifted with 3 successive great rulers, Li Jiqian (ruled 982 - 1004, causing much headache to the Song), Li Deming (1004 - 1032, who seized the opportunity to conquer the entire Hexi Corridor, which dominated the silk road) and culminating in the independence and formation of Western Xia dynasty in 1038 by Li Yuanhao.

@prasanth2601 2 ай бұрын

Rise of Tangut Xia dynasty is one of the most overlooked piece in east asian history. But I'd say the rise of Jin dynasty is the most interesting/important event in all of Chinese history. Their descendants somehow managed to conquer the most powerful civilisation with lightning speed.

@edwardwindsor2516 2 ай бұрын

Having a stressful day today, so seeing this video pop up is a very welcome development. Keep up the good work man I love your stuff and you deserve ten-times the subscribers you have right now!

@bauermehlmann8800 2 ай бұрын

A hard day Just means you will sleep better. Good luck

@ahcaileo 2 ай бұрын

One story can show how rich the common people were in Song Dynasty. There was a half-disabled ugly man named Wu Dalng, who suffered short body height of less than 5 feet. Yet he got a sudden fortune that he could marry the most beautiful woman in his prefecture called Pan Jinlian, because Ms. Pan, who was an adopted girl of a landlord family, was very disobedient and so the landlord decided to punish her by marrying her to the half-disabled man. As a result, many playboys and rogues felt so disgruntled and they came to his house daily yelling 'what a pity that a so good mutton would drop to the dog's mouth'. So, Mr. Wu Dalang decided to move to the neighboring prefecture, rented a house and made a living for both him and his beautiful wife by just vendoring steamed cakes on streets. Their life proceeded peacefully until his blood brother, Wu Song or Wu Erlang who was a great hero that could beat a tiger to death with bare hands. The later story went to a tragedy because, as one can easily imagine, Ms. Pan Jinlian fell in love with his brother in law but Wu Song rudely pushed away her love according to the moral norm at that time. Then Pan shifted her love to another rich man named Xi Menqing. Unfortunately their love affair got exposed and Pan Jinlian had to poisoned Wu Dalang to avoid punishment. Then, Wu Song returned home again and got to know all the truth about his brother's death. So he killed both his sister in law and Xi Menqing, the adulterer. The first half of the story shows how an easy life people in Song time had enjoyed and the tragedy part of the story explained why the story could be transmitted through 1000 years down to today.

@cyberiansailor9741 Ай бұрын

Ai read that in the Water Margin Novel. This was such a sad story and I remember vividly how I was enraged by the murder of the poor steamed buns vendor. Also I want to note that the Water Margin was a story written more than a hundred years after the fall of the song dynasty.

@user-we9ju9fk6l 2 күн бұрын

这是小说

@DucaTech 2 ай бұрын

Well known invention & innovations of Song: use of rudders & bulkheads, compass (naval navigation), moveable types (printing press), gunpowder weapons (hand cannons), use of paper money (bank notes).

@laserspear22 2 ай бұрын

As always, a great video. Thanks for sharing

@gabrielchan5327 2 ай бұрын

the goat returns 🔥 just a quick correction: the brothers who established the Song were actually the Zhao brothers - "taizu" and "taizong" are mainly honorifics conferred to founders/2nd generation founders of Chinese dynasties, so it would be more accurate to state that the "Zhao brothers" or the "Taizu and Taizong Emperors" founded the Song dynasty love your vids as always!

@studiumhistoriae 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the clarification!

@gabrielchan5327 2 ай бұрын

ALSO one thing I think is worthy for a future deep dive is how impactful and significant Song literati culture was - the birth of Neo-Confucianism, Song Poetry, philosophical/poetic legends such as Su Shi and Ouyang Xiu, etc

@doanhoangvan5009 2 ай бұрын

@@studiumhistoriae Thanks for providing interesting insights on the Song's accomplisments in maintaining social stability and enhancing economic prosperity. Before watching this video, we were often taught about the Song Dynasty as one which was politically and militarily weak, often defeated and humiliated by nomadic neighbors. I think this negative conception about the Song Empire is partly true, as the empire was not able to match the glory of Han and Tang; but still, it is very important to have a more balanced view on the Song successes and failures; and your video did a good job in providing information for this comprehensive knowledge.

@user-wx9oh4rk1y 2 ай бұрын

“TaiZu” and “TaiZong” are temple titles （庙号）. Tai（太）means sovereign, and Zu（祖）means the first ancestor.Zong in TaiZong（太宗）means respectable people.All of the temple titles of emperors are granted by inheritors after the death of the last emperor. And you can also find this character Zong （宗）in other emperors´ temple titles in Song dynasty or even in other dynasties（like Tang TaiZong）. btw 宗 is also my family name. And it's a rare family name in China.

@syncmaster915n 2 ай бұрын

Do you know that Taizong was likely to have murdered his brother to usurp the throne? Taizu's death was very hushed up after his visit to his younger brother one night. The latter emerged in the morning declaring that Taizu had passed away and took over the throne, pretty much very smoothly. The line of descendent from then on passed down Taizong's line until Gaozong of the Southern Song period. Gaozong (reign 1127-1162) had no sons so the line of descendent was passed back to Taizu's line.

@JimmyLiao-sg3cz 2 ай бұрын

I love your effort. Thanks!

@spacebunny4335 2 ай бұрын

I’ve been having a stressful few weeks and seeing this cheered me up.

@Zephyriia 2 ай бұрын

Love this haha, this video allowed me to discuss deeply with one of my history professors at school. ❤

@BlueHooloovoo 2 ай бұрын

I'm a big fan of Asian history, especially Japanese history. China, obviously, influenced Japanese culture and traditions for centuries.

@dr.gaosclassroom 2 ай бұрын

It is so interesting you mentioned the censoring of books to be sold to outsiders. I happened to know that the first official who proposed the censorship about books was the younger brother of the great Song Dynasty poet Su Shi, Su Zhe!

@hmj1116 2 ай бұрын

The Ming Dynasty is my favorite

@AssasiCraftYogUscus 2 ай бұрын

Regarding the Song's relation with the South. The wars with Ngo and Ly dynasty of Vietnam resulted in the Vietnamese declaring their own empire. They even lost various provinces which they never regained. Yunnan also became a power in its own right at this time. From every direction the Song really were forced to recognize there were other players on the board.

@conho4898 2 ай бұрын

A unified Song also never took northern Vietnam, which once belonged to Tang dynasty. Keep up the great work! It's rare to see contents regarding Chinese history before Qing dynasty.

@AssasiCraftYogUscus 2 ай бұрын

During the 1070's the Song-Ly war resulted in the sack of Nanning. As well as the loss of Cao Bang and Langson permanently defining Vietnams northern border.

@Wha2les 2 ай бұрын

I love how you talk about Chinese history! It isn't talked much in the west.

@hmj1116 2 ай бұрын

The Ming Dynasty is my favorite dynasty because my name is Ming Jeong a decedent of Jeong Fee a member of the three brothers he was an archer his blood brothers are user of a sword and brother Quan used a spear.

@alexzhu4710 2 ай бұрын

good job man, your narrative is very precise. song is one of the fascinating dynasties in Chinese history, it's weak in military but prosperous in civilization and culture. just one thing i think it could be discussed. Shi doesnt exactly correspond to literati in europe. although most Shi are well educated man of letters. but they more emphasis on the value and courages. even an illiterate if his behavior conform to the principles of Shi, he can also be called a Shi.

@_Wombat 2 ай бұрын

Nice :)

@user-fo2uh4rm5c 2 ай бұрын

North Song is considered to be the most prosperity with a very long painting as evidence. Song Yan Emporer is the most reasonable administration, with very famous officials. The products of the period are highly praised by artists

@user-fo2uh4rm5c 2 ай бұрын

The signing of treaties with Liao lay peace period for a long time. Song was highly troubled by the hunting neighbors . Despite of tough national defense, Song was finally intruded to the Yuan, grandson of Mongolian Ghenghis Khan. Yuan Dynasty is short-lived for less than 92 yrs China is returned to the rule of Chinese under Ming Dynasty.

@GerardMenvussa 27 күн бұрын

Liu is an interesting figure and sounds like she took her role very seriously.

@StoicHistorian 2 ай бұрын

Hey I’ve been watching your vids for awhile, really enjoyed this one, was wondering if you’d be up for some sort of collaboration

@studiumhistoriae 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! A collab could be interesting!

@roro4787 2 ай бұрын

Tang Dynasty is my favourite

@Kpop_stole_foids_fromcurrycell 2 ай бұрын

Chinese superiority

@BlueHooloovoo 2 ай бұрын

Basically, China was "the" power in the world. Everyone wanted the commodities they produced, and transcontinental trade revolved around it.

@GerardMenvussa 27 күн бұрын

@@BlueHooloovoo"Everyone wanted the commodities they produced, and transcontinental trade revolved around it." You mean just like today :o)

@TedMarrTedMarr 2 ай бұрын

I am working on the second volume. There will be three volumes that ends when Song was conquered by the Mongols..

@SyIe12 2 ай бұрын

👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@johndorilag4129 2 ай бұрын

Anglo-Saxons would write about China from their perspective which would range from neutral to outright racist.

@ickysnowman 2 ай бұрын

Sinophobia for you

@johndorilag4129 2 ай бұрын

@@ickysnowman You got it wrong dummy

@BiNumLi 2 ай бұрын

Who was the most powerful man in Song China? Confucius! His writings colonized the brains of the elite class. Combine an atheist rationalist moralist with an authoritarian centralist government and we can see how China was set up for adoption of Communism almost a thousand years later. The power of bureaucracy was another pillar of Communism present in the governance model. Song is so interesting as a Dynasty because it marked a clear break with the brash militarist all-powerful Emperor model of prior dynasties. Notice how bland are the garments of the Song Emperors. Their clothes seem to say 'Don't pay attention to me. I'm just the figurehead. My power has been delegated to the Supreme Committee of the Socialist Republic.'

@rshmnz 2 ай бұрын

Video about song dynasty… Video starts with a palace from the ming… 😂😂😂

@oldboy1013 2 ай бұрын

As a matter of fact,Song china was small and weak,the history had been exaggeraed

@lineage13 2 ай бұрын

Hi, I am a product of hundreds of years of attempted inbreeding of the song royal blood line near Southern China Yamen. Thank you for doing this piece on my ancestors!